FAYETTE, Iowa - The Upper Iowa football team (8-3, 6-2 GLVC) plays in its first-ever bowl game on Saturday against Hillsdale (Mich.) (6-5, 5-4 G-MAC). Kickoff for the Albanese Candy Bowl is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hobart High School in Hobart, Indiana.
With a win, the Peacocks will achieve the most in a season in program history with nine. Upper Iowa has already achieved the most wins in back-to-back seasons for the program at 15, and went undefeated at home for the first time in the Division II era.
LIVE OPTIONS
Fans unable to attend the game in Hobart this weekend can stay connected with a pair of live options available at UIUPeacocks.com/Live, featuring access to live stats and a FREE webcast through GLVCSN. The game will be streamed at no cost on both GLVCSN and the Heartland Sports Network. Fans can also refer to the links attached to this story for all live options.
In addition to GLVCSN.com, viewers can catch the Peacocks on the GLVCSN iOS and Android mobile app, as well as the GLVCSN app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
BOWL INFORMATION
Albanese Confectionery has partnered with the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA) for the bowl game this year. This NCAA Division II football bowl game originated in 2019 as America's Crossroads Bowl and is currently one of only three bowl games at the NCAA DII level. The Albanese Candy Bowl features two teams from two conferences, the G-MAC (Greater Midwest Athletic Conference) and the GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference).
The GLVC leads the series in the bowl game, 4-1. All four wins have been by Truman State (Mo.). Ashland (Ohio) defeated McKendree (Ill.) in 2023 for the G-MAC's lone win. Previous statistical leaders from the games can be found here.
Tickets can be purchased using the link above or at the Albanese Candy Bowl website. Limited tickets are available for $12/adults; $7/kids and senior citizens; FREE for Pop Warner players in uniform with a paying adult; FREE for students (must show student ID) and must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children four and under are free.
The Albanese Candy Bowl Banquet will be held on Friday, Dec. 5th, at Dean and Barbara White Community Center in Merrillville at 6 p.m. CST. This banquet is held to recognize both participating teams and the student-athletes for their outstanding seasons. Tickets are available for purchase for $40/person.
Merchandise is available at the bowl game's website above. The website also features information for fans traveling to the game, including places to stay, visit and events in the area.
SENDOFF RALLY
There will be a send-off celebration for the team on Main Street in Fayette on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 12:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bundle up and line Main Street to cheer on the Peacocks as the City of Fayette—along with Fire, EMS and Police—escorts the team bus for this historic departure.
The Legion will have UIU flags for fans to wave, and Pete's will offer hot cocoa and hot cider to help everyone stay warm. Shuttles will depart from the Student Center Circle Drive beginning at 12:00 PM. Fayette business owners and members of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce will join UIU students, faculty and staff in showing their pride.
FAN BUS
Upper Iowa Student Activities is offering a fan bus for students to make it to the game. The charter bus will leave at 7 a.m. on the morning of the game on Saturday, Dec. 6. Up to 56 attendees can make the five hour, 45 minute trip each way. Cost to attend is $35 per person, which includes both transportation and game admission. The link to sign up can be found above.
ALL-GLVC SELECTIONS
The Peacocks had 17 members of the team earn All-GLVC recognition, highlighted by kicker Nathan Behne being named Co-Special Teams Player of the Year. Behne became the first Special Teams Player of the Year in Upper Iowa football history. He joined running back Chris Smith as the only other conference player of the year in program history during the Division II era.
Upper Iowa had five All-GLVC First Team selections in Klay Seehase, Mante Morrow, Eddie Burgess, Shaquille Roman and Tade Parsons. Burgess and Morrow earned this honor for the second time after being named All-GLVC First Team in 2023.
Connor Andresen, Jayden Gordon, Eddy Latanauskas, Avery Dixon, Yashua Pettis-Taylor and Behne earned second-team nods. The honorable mentions for the Peacocks were Evan Dorn, Ryan McDonough, Nick Perry, Trevor Thompson, Demontay Mack and Darryl Overstreet Jr.
HARLON HILL
Morrow is one of 36 student-athletes from across the country who have been nominated for the 2025 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Football Player of the Year. He became the second nominee for the award in program history, also joining Chris Smith in 2013.
STATISTICS SUMMARY
Overstreet Jr. leads the Peacocks at quarterback with 2,467 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is 223-of-310 (71.94%) passing, ranking second in the nation. Overstreet Jr. is slightly behind UIndy's Gavin Sukup at 253-of-350 (72.29%) for the top completion percentage in the nation.
The senior has thrown for the most passing yards and touchdowns in a season in his career. He's now up to 7,547 yards and 61 passing touchdowns, ranking second for a Peacock quarterback in their career.
Gordon leads the Peacocks on the ground with 640 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The Second Team All-GLVC selection is averaging seven yards per carry. Damond Head Jr. has 498 rushing yards with seven touchdowns, while Overstreet Jr. has run for 332 yards and five touchdowns.
Morrow leads the team in receiving with 52 catches for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns. He finished first in the GLVC in receiving touchdowns and second in receiving yards. Morrow ranks 12th in the nation in receiving yards per game and is tied for sixth in total receiving touchdowns.
The senior receiver's 900 yards are the fourth most in a single season in program history. He's 14 yards away from third. The most is by Keaton Hosch in 2012 with 1,094 yards. Morrow's 12 receiving touchdowns rank third in a single season for the program.
Burgess leads the GLVC amongst tight ends in receiving yards with 584 while scoring five touchdowns. The First Team All-GLVC selection ranks fifth nationally among tight ends in receiving yards.
On defense, Dorn is the leading tackler with 86 total (36 solo) and has added a sack, forced fumble and an interception. Thompson has 61 tackles (35 solo), a sack and an interception. They rank seventh and 14th, respectively, in total tackles in the GLVC.
First Team All-GLVC safety Parsons leads the Peacocks in solo tackles with 44 (66 total). He has a team-high three interceptions while also totaling six pass breakups.
Defensive ends Roman and Mack each lead the team in sacks with seven. Roman has also added an interception, forced fumble and four pass breakups, helping him earn his First Team All-GLVC selection.
Behne is 8-of-11 on field goals this season while being a perfect 5-of-5 beyond 40 yards. He has a career-long of 51 yards. Behne ranks second in the GLVC in field goal percentage (72.2%) and first in punt average (43.33).
AROUND THE GLVC
GLVC Champion UIndy (11-2, 8-0 GLVC) defeated Truman State (8-4, 7-1 GLVC) by a score of 57-14 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 22. The Greyhounds lost this past Saturday to No. 21 Minnesota State (10-3) in the second round, 35-27. Minnesota State advances to play Ferris State this weekend in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. The winner will represent Super Region Three in the semifinals.
With UIndy's loss, Upper Iowa is the last GLVC team to play a football game this season.
ABOUT THE CHARGERS
This is Hillsdale's second appearance in the bowl game, losing to Truman State 34-17 in 2021. The Chargers enter the Albanese Candy Bowl on a four-game winning streak, having recently defeated Ohio Dominican (5-5) 31-14 on Senior Day.
Sophomore quarterback Colin McKernan is 155-of-255 (60.78%) this season with 1,914 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He ranked third in the G-MAC in passing touchdowns and fourth in passing yards this season. McKernan has also run for 400 yards and five touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Shea Ruddy is a dynamic player for the Chargers with 598 yards and six touchdowns receiving. He also has a passing touchdown and two return touchdowns. Ruddy averages 137.27 all-purpose yards per game, ranking 10th in the nation. He was named the G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
On the ground, freshman running back Ben Nigshu has emerged for the Chargers with 716 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the G-MAC in total rushing yards and third in rushing yards per game (65.1). Ngishu was named the G-MAC's Freshman of the Year.
Junior linebacker Jacob Vance leads the team in tackles with 64 (37 solo) while totaling three sacks and an interception. He earned First Team All-GMAC this season. Defensive back Colin Morrow has added 62 tackles and a team-high three interceptions. Junior Ryan Niksa has 14 pass breakups, ranking 10th in the nation.
Drake Badger earned First Team All-GMAC honors at defensive end. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior leads Hillsdale in sacks with 10, the most by any Charger since 2009. He ranked fourth in the G-MAC in sacks and tied for third in tackles-for-loss with 14.
Nate Shreffler is in his second season as the head coach of Hillsdale, leading them to back-to-back 6-5 seasons for a 12-10 total. Under his tenure, the Chargers are 8-0 in the last four games of the year during both seasons, and a perfect 6-0 in the month of November.
